Small-space style

Make every inch of a small home count with these inventive design ideas, creative organization tips, and decorating strategies

23 small yard design solutions

Is your yard or garden small on space? Get big ideas for making the most out of your outdoor sanctuary

500-square-foot urban oasis
Photo by Thomas J. Story; written by Julie Chai

500-square-foot urban oasis

Baylor Chapman loves living and working in San Francisco’s Mission District. But at the end of the day, she wants a retreat from the surrounding busy-ness, so she transformed her deck into a plant-filled outdoor room. “My garden softens some of the urbanness of my neighborhood—it’s a little natural oasis off the street.” And the outfitted patio almost doubles the living space of Baylor’s 800-square-foot loft, so she’s got even more room to cook, dine, and entertain. The overall look is artistically eclectic and highly personal, as she acquired and then personalized much of her furniture and pots, which primarily came from salvage yards, flea markets, friends, and even neighborhood streets.

More: How to create an oasis in a small urban yard


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